The countdown has officially begun

[jbrostek]

T-minus 18 days to departure day. Everything is slowly lining up, all the families involved have agreed to the dinner menu for the days we do not plan to eat out. We split up the meals each family taking 2 potential meals each. We dont really plan which day for which meal but try not to make any one person cook 2 nights in a row.

The Magic bands arrived without issue, and yes the interesting part is my KTTW card from last year (the RFID one) is still active and usable if I wish. I chose to deactivate it on MDE, but you can reactive it any time.

The good thing is I will have all my Christmas shopping complete by Wed, all that is left is a trip to the mall to pick up some gift cards from specific stores, all the physical gifts are bought and waiting to be wrapped. In the mean time I have already started to pick up items on the list for the trip.

Most of us have already started the food shopping (taking advantage of good sales on non perishable items.) Later this week or next week I will get my truck over to the shop so we can rotate and balence tires, check fluids, etc. I have a feeling I may just have to do the brakes, but I will know for sure when I have the wheels off. I dont like going on big trips if I am close to needing the work.

Everyones excitement is building but I have been able to start crossing items off the list!

 

[jbrostek]

T-Minus 14 days to departure day. I have made some awesome progress. The Christmas shopping is done, tonight I help my mother get settled in her new place down near Baltimore which is closer to my brother and sister, but better then LI NY.

I have already started to shop the food sales and stock up on non perishable items or items that will not expire quickly. I have tested the mickey lamp to make sure its ready to light the site entrance once we arrive. And we are starting to pack the seasonal clothes we would not use at home but may use at Disney. I can't wait for the 4th to get here, but I still have lots to do including dropping my truck off for its pre-vacation wash and wax with my local detailer.

The RV was new in October, and while it needs a wash and a coat of wax, it may be part of my "tinker time" while I am down there since I have very little to tinker with right now.

 

[jbrostek]

Merry Christmas to all! And while a day early I am sure I will not be online much for the holiday. So the 10 day pre-trip report!!! That's right, in 10 days from now we will be southbound in the new rig heading for a much needed vacation. The preparations have been going well, with Christmas tomorrow for the first time in a long time, we are ready! It also helped we are not hosting siblings and mother this year, my brother volunteered to host dinner, I was only asked to make and bring the family stuffing since somehow I am the only one thats learned the reciepe from my mother, yet they always ask for it from either of us each year.

That aside, we have already started to stock up the trailer for the trip with non perishables. We plan to start the fridge and load it up later next week. I believe Thursday will be the final food shopping trip for all the perishable items and taken directly to the RV. We will also move all the meats we bought during sales in the past month and move them over to the freezer in the RV as well.

And the good news on the truck, the overall service has been done. Everything lubed underneath, the new 5th wheel hitch checked to ensure all bolts are torqued to spec, found I do not need to do brakes, and addressed what we think was the issue with my low brake pedal. The issue was the return line for the hydroboost (power steering) was pinched. Not sure how it happen, but corrected it with a new line and the pedal feels like normal again. The new rig did not need much work, but its pretrip is essentially done after I greased the chassis and checked the trailer brakes and backing plates.

 

[jbrostek]

The pre trip report continues. T minus 8 days to departure, 7 days to be loaded up and ready. We enjoyed a wonderful Christmas with family and friends, even managed to surprise 1 or 2 with a simple but thoughtful gift.

I took yesterday as a "crew rest day" as we call it after I got home from work. Christmas was great, but between the cooking and driving to and from my brothers and then getting up for work the next morning left me beat.

So tonight starts round 1 of actual travel packing and prep, I am going to head out to the 5th wheel, roll out the slides (which is awesome I can even do that where I store it.) Start up the fridge, and unload all the stuff we have been accumulating for the trip and put it away. The lists are all written up and waiting, but I always take them along in case I find something else I forgot.

Of course being the techie guy that I am, most of my work tonight is rewiring the TV (why would you sell a new RV with a HDTV, blue ray player and NOT use an HDMI cable?) and get a few other items and pieces sorted out that have bugged me on how they setup the RV.

Of course we are trying to make sure nothing is forgotten, Magic bands will be tucked away in the camper tonight before they are lost.

 

[bama_ed]

jbrostek,

I'm like you in that I will role my popup out and set it up to store things inside it as much as possible before trips. I also put the sheets and blankets on the bunks so when we get to our destination, at least THAT part is already done.

These little prep steps help build the anticipation, don't they?

Bama ED

 

[Lyndria]

Hope your trip goes smoothly!

 

[JanL]

I know I'm a nerd, but I really enjoy the pre-trip reports...helps me organize better when I do my next campout...makes me feel guilty if I don't, LOL!

 

[jbrostek]

Ed - 100% best way to do it, it just would not fit in to truck even if I wanted it to. And the way the new 5er is setup, its just like a popup where you cannot get to anything with the slides in. The bus I could load up without moving out the slides, but I usually did because I could. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the slides in the new trailer, but somewhat of a pain when your on the road or loading up. And yes on tonights list is to bring all the clean linens back from the house, make the bed, put that all away.

I too have enjoyed the building anticipation of pre-trips, which is why I decided to do mine but not spam it with daily updates. I have been paraphrasing a lot of the prep work, but I am pretty detail orientated thanks to my job.

I have my fingers crossed that New Years will be a good weather day (not too cold, no precip) as I would like to make a few minor mods to the trailers underbelly storage. If not ill stick with the current setup and make the changes in spring.

The interesting report will be the trip report, long term forcast right now shows rain/snow for Jan 4. I am hoping it turns bust or shows up a day late, I already have my nieces/god daughters sweet sixteen that afternoon, and my hope it so get on the road and make it down near fayetteville before I give up for the night. That will leave me with about 12 hours travel time (driving plus stops) to get to FW. The rest of my group will already be there, so I am sure I will get all the help I need backing in and seting up. Thankfully they are all experienced RVers and know when to step in and help and when not to.

 

[jbrostek]

Woohoo!!!! Only 5 days to depature! I am still working down the list, but 5er is all checked out, greased up and ready for the trip south. I spent some time this weekend and got the inside of the truck all cleaned out and detailed the interior. Outside will see a wash and wax on Wed when I have the time to give it. Thankfully, even with freezing or near freezing temps I have access to a heated bay at a friends shop to do that work.

So the game plan tonight is to get all the warm weather clothes organized and ready to take to the RV. Start all the laundry so by end of week everything we want to take is clean and ready to get loaded up on Friday.

Sometime over the next 3 days will be the big shopping trip to load up on all the food not already aquired for the trip and get it all loaded up in the fridge. Not to mention I been told I must make to my barber no later then Thursday. I am not allowed to attend my nieces sweet 16 without a hair cut (per my niece on Sunday.)

 

[JanL]

Get a buzz cut...serves her right for being so persnickety, LOL.

 

[jbrostek]

Actually I keep it short (2 side, 4 top) I am "fuzzy" as she put it and she is right, its been about 3 weeks and I am due for a cut before vacaiton anyway. I told her I would have them shave it down to a short mowhawk for her party pictures. She is freaking out now.....

 

[jbrostek]

Wow, down to the last 48 hours of crazy! Finally got the truck on the alignment rack after an annoying pull once the tires where rotated. Turns out it did need a minor alignment and my buddy recommended I rebalenced the tires (one had last all its wheel weights.) What I can tell you is you can save lots of money with a great friend who owns a shop and let you use it to do things yourself, but those tires are HEAVY. Finally got them all properly balenced and back on the truck, think next time ill leave it during shop hours and have his guys break their back on those 75# a piece wheel and tires.

New years day was very productive but less then I had hoped. My little Minpin (all of 5lbs) had tummy issues and refusing food. So a phone call the vet, some direction on home remedies to try (beyond just boiled chicken and rice) and some hours spent snuggling my little velcro girl. She started feeling better and got her appetite back, so I spent the evening getting what I could loaded into the camper.

Tonight will be a flurry of errands and shopping, and as always I will be ready to go by tomorrow night, and then just have to wait (I am so ready to leave NOW!!!)

I will start an official trip report if I have the time and energy this weekend. I cannot wait to get there, setup and just relax!

 

[JanL]

Thanks for the pre-trip report...I've enjoyed it. Glad your little "girl" is back on her feet and feed.